Method for positioning and orienting palletized articles

ABSTRACT

Palletized articles are formed in tiers having edges set back from the edges of the supporting pallet or separator sheet by transporting a number of articles into a positioning area defined on three sides by positioning guides to form the articles into an appropriately dimensioned tier, lowering the tier and retracting the positioning means to permit placement of the separator sheet on top of the tier, and repositioning of the positioning means with concurrent proper positioning of the separator sheet and a final orientation of the lowered tier from four sides, the device for accomplishing the positioning and orientation being articulated in the lower, orienting portion to accommodate the situation in which the initial tier is placed directly on a pallet and the pallet occupies the lower position being of a dimension substantially larger than that of the lower tier.

United States Patent 1191 VanderMeer et al.

. 14 1 Nov. 11, 1975 1 1 METHOD FOR POSITIONING AND ORIENTING PALLETIZEDARTICLES [75] Inventors: Richard H. VanderMeer, Golden;

Robert L. Simmons, Lafayette. both of Colo.

[73] Assignee: Goldco, Industries Inc., Golden,

Colo.

22 Filed: Jan. 9, 1975 21 App1.No.:539.660

Related US. Application Data 21 Division of Ser. No. 390.639. Aug. 22.1973.

Berghgracht 214/6 H Choate ct al. 214/6 H Primary Iixamizten-Robert J.Spar Assistant Evun11'nerLeslie J. Paperner Almrnev, Agent, orFirm-Thomas W. ORourke [57] ABSTRACT Palletized articles are formed intiers having edges set back from the edges of the supporting pallet orseparator sheet by transporting a number of articles into a positioningarea defined on three sides by positioning guides to form the articlesinto an appro riately di mensioned tier. lowering the tier andretracting the positioning means to permit placement of the separatorsheet on top of the tier. and repositioning of the positioning meanswith concurrent proper positioning of the separator sheet and a. finalorientation of the lowered tier from four sides. the device foraccomplishing the positioning and orientation being articulated in thelower, orienting portion to accommodate the situation in which theinitial tier is placed directly on a pallet and the pallet occupies thelower position being of a dimension substantially larger than that ofthe lower tier.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures /6' .23 I I ll'll 1111] 1 ll 1 |1|-- 1 '1 l]"l .111 1' '1 l 1 1 /5 ,1 11 '111 6 /2 as 38 "1 I l. l8 1 3/9 U.S.Patent Nov.11,1'975 sheetlom 3,918,598

U.S. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet2 0f3 3,918,598

US. Patent Nov. 11, 1975 Sheet3of3 3,918,598

Fig 5 METHOD FOR POSITIONING AND ORIENTING PALLETIZED ARTICLESBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a division ofapplication Ser. No. 390,639, filed Aug. 22, 1973.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally topalletizing of articles, such as containers, into a tiered, palletizedload, and, more particularly, to 'a' method for initially positioningthe articles as they are transported onto the pallet or separator sheetsintotiers set back substantially from the edges of the separatorsheets'or pallets, and providing for final orientation of the articles relativeto the palletized load after the disruptive steps of lowering of theload after formation and placement of the separator sheet have beencompleted, and immediately prior to the imposition of a load onto theseparator sheet above the tier being oriented. Further, the methodprovides for placement and location -of a separator sheet when the tiersare spaced from the edge of the separator sheet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART Large number of articles are conventionallypalletized in a rapid and mechanized manner by conveying the articlesonto a pallet until the pallet is substantially filled with thearticlesthereby-forming. a tier-lowering the pallet approximately theheight of the article, interposing a separator sheet and conveyingadditional articles onto the separator sheet to form another tier ofarticles. The operation is repeated until a:multitiered load is formed.Such palletization is quite common with regard to containers such asglassware or cans. The patterns of tiers are carefully predetermined forthe purpose of economical utilization of space. and for properinterfacing with subsequent operations. It is not unusual for suchpalletized loads to extend or feet in height. Accordingly, it is mostimportant that each tier be properly positioned and oriented both inrelationship to other tiers and to the pallet. v

Conventionally, articles have been placed closely adjacent the edge ofthe pallet or separator sheet. With the edges of the pallet, separatorsheets and tiers substantially in a vertical plane, fixed. verticalwalls were conventionally used to form and locate the palletized load.It was a simple matter to align the edge of the pallet, the separatorsheet and the tiers.

However, the rather fragile nature of certain palletized articles, suchas drawn and wall-ironed cans, has developed a demand for pallet loadarrangements in which the articles are spaced a substantial distancefrom the outer edge of the pallet or separator sheets to provide ameasure of protection to the articles. In addition, with the separatorsheet protruding from the edge of the palletized load, it is a muchsimpler matter to mechanically grasp and remove the separator sheet fromthe tier when depalletizing or performing some other operation.

Other than the not particularly successful use of horizontally-mountedhydraulic or pneumatic cylinders, in conjunction with fixed verticalwalls,to urge guides against the periphery of a lower tier on threesides thereof, there is little prior art as to equipment for guiding,locating and orienting unconventional arrangements wherein the edge ofthe tier is spaced back fromthe outer edge of the separator sheets orpallet. Such'prior art means as are known are inflexible with regard toalignment of a given tier with regard to a previously formed tier, inproviding forinsertion of or locating of the separatorsheet, or incoping with the situation where the initial load is formed upon thepallet and the pallet occupies the space normally occupied by the lowertier. In addition, withonly three sides of the tier usually beingaligned, and with any inaccuracy of alignment being accommodated on thefourth side, the overall performance of the prior art attempts to locateand orient palletized articles have been markedly less thansatisfactory,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention, which provides aheretofore unavailable improvement over previous positioning andorienting devices for palletizers, comprises actuation of essentiallyidentical means on the three sides of the palletized load other than thefeed side. Upper positioning guides are pivotally mounted to, in theextended position, receive and position the articles initially conveyedonto thep alletized load, be it onto the pallet or onto a separatorsheet." With regard to a tier arrangement involving a substantialsetback from the edge of the separator sheet, such positioning guideswould, on three sides, define'a perimeter smaller than that of theseparator sheet. Accordingly, as the completed tier is lowered to thesubsequent position, the guides would prevent positioning of the largerseparator sheet on top of the completed tier. Thus, the instantinvention provides for pivotable displacement or retraction of thepositioning guides to accommodate placement of the separator sheets. a

Adjustable recessed. separatorsheet locating means are provided anappropriate distance below the positioning guides to properly: locatethe separator sheet upon return of the positioning guides to theextended position. Further, articulated orientation guides are providedto accurately orient the lowered tier of articles. The orientationguides are articulatedly mounted to permit extension of thepositioningguides when a pallet is positioned in the volume-normally occupied by alowered tier. A final and complete orientation of the articles from foursides is accomplished after positioning of the separator sheet and.immediately before placement of another tier on the separator sheet.Thus,

any disruption of the articles by the separator sheet is corrected andthe ..weight of the newly-formed tier tends to vlock and maintain theaccurate orientation of the lower tier. 5

Accordingly, it is an object'of the present invention 1 to provide .forarticle location'and orientation in pallet-. izers by concurrentlybearing against and locating adjacent tiers of articles. I

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedmethod for locating and orienting articles on a palletized load whichalso accommodates separator sheets extending substantially beyond theedge of'a tier of the articles.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved method for locating and orienting articles on apalletized loadwhich bears upon at least one tier from foursides' of the tierimmediately priorto the imposition of a weight from above the tier.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and.improvedmethod for locating and oricnting articles in a palletized loadwhich includes an articulated orientation guide to, alternatively.orient a lower tier of articles or, in the event such position isoccupied by a pallet, to pivot from the normal orientation locationwithout hindering the locating function of the locating guide on thefeed portion of the apparatus.

Yet still another object of the present invention is to provide a methodwhich accurately and automatically locates separator sheets utilized inpalletized loads in which the edge of the tier is spaced back from theedge of the separator sheet.

These andother objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a portion of the palletizing operatingapparatus utilizing the method in accordance with the present invention;

FlG. 2 is a top view of a simplified device utilizing the concept of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a modified sectioned side view along the plane of line 33 ofFIG. 2 of a simplified palletizing operation wherein the pallet ispositioned for initial support of articles thereon;

FIG. 4 is a modified sectioned side view along the plane of line 3-3 ofFIG. 2 wherein the positioning and orienting guides are retracted topermit placement of a separator sheet; I

FIG. 5 is.a modified sectioned side view along the plane of line 33 ofFIG. 2 wherein the orientation of the lowered tier and positioning ofthe separator sheet are illustrated;

FIG. 6 is a modified sectioned sidevview along the plane of line 3-3 ofFIG. 2 wherein the positioning of newly fed articles by the positioningguide is illustrated; and

FIG.- 7 is a modified sectioned elevation along the plane of line ll of-FIG. .2 illustrating the feeding of new articles onto a separator sheetand, concurrently, illustrating the positioning of articles from theside from which the articles are fed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION prises a conveyor 12 on whicharticles 13 are conveyed over support 15 to form tiers of articles 13 onseparator sheet 16.

Adjacent tiers of articles 13 are supported on pallet 18 which, in turn,is supported by elevator 19. Articles conveyed to upper separator sheet16 are, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, positioned by positioning guides 20.P0- sitioning guides 20 are carried on support arm assemblies 22 which,in turn, are pivotally mounted at bearings 23 by means of shafts 24.

As illustrated in more detail in FIG. 2, shafts 24 are connected byright-angle drives 26 and mounted on three sides of the palletizer 10 insuch a manner that activating device 27 concurrently pivots positioningguides 20 towards and away from the area which articles 13 are formedinto tiers in a coordinated fashion through lever- 28 attachedthroughone of the rightangle drives 26.

The details of support arm assemblies 22, positioning guides 20 and theinteraction therebetween are shown in more detail in FIG. 3. Uponinitiation of the formation of articles 13 into tiers upon pallet 18,i.e., with elevator 19 in an uppermost position, it is necessary thatthe portion of support arm assemblies 22 below positioning guides 20 bearticulated, such as by means of hinges 30. This permits positioningguides 20 to accurately receive and position articles 13 into initialtier upon pallet 18. The lower portion of support arm assemblies 22 arearticulatedto accommodate the unusual event of pallet 18 occupying theposition normally occupied by a second tier of articles 13. While theweight of the lower portion of support arm assemblies 22 usuallysuffices to bias the articulated portion thereof to the proper positionin a noninterfering situation, springs (not shown) or other means may beemployed to enhance the bias.

The function of the means supported on the lower portion of support armassemblies 22 is illustrated in FIG. 4 whereat adjustable separatorsheet locating means 32 andorienting guides 34 are shown, with locatingguides 20 pivoted into a retracted or open position to permit insertionof separator sheet 16 onto the lowered tier of articles 13, as shown.Precise lateral placement of separator sheet 16 is not necessary.Rather, adjustable separator sheet locating means 32, as shown in FIG.5, accurately position and locate separator sheet 16 on the lowered tierof articles 13 upon movement of support arm assemblies 22 and,accordingly, locating guides 20, separator sheet locating means 32 andorienting guide 34,-into the extended or article positioningorientation.

With locating arm assemblies 22 in the extended, as opposed toretracted, position,-locating guides 20 are in a proper relationship toreceive and locate articles 13 being fed therein. Separator sheet 16 isaccurately located and articles- 13 in the lower tier are'oriented byorienting guides 34 after the disruptive act of inserting andpositioning separator sheet 16 and lowering of the tiers. Thus,orientation of articles 13 in the lower tier is accomplished andarticles 13 of the upper tier are immediately fed onto separator sheet16 to secure and maintain the orientation of the lower tier of articles13.

Though the discussion has been primarily with regard to traverselocation, as in FIGS. 5 and 6, it is to be noted that the lower tier ofarticles 13 is oriented from four sides, as shown in FIG. 7. Orientationmember 36 is movably supported by pivot 37 below support 15 and isactivatable by cylinder 38 concurrently with the extension of armsupport assemblies 22 by, for instance, a common pneumatic pressuresource. Since orientation member 36 'servicesa single orientationfunction, as opposed to the plurality of functions performed by supportarm assemblies 22 and associated guides 20 and 34, interference bypallet 19, as shown in FIG. 3,

is not troublesome. By merely regulating the force applied toorientation member 36, it may bear upon an obstruction without affectingother functions. Since there is no need for orientation when pallet 19is being directly loaded, the fact that orientation member 36 does notfully extend is of no consequence.

Summarily, the method of the present invention provides a number ofadvantages n'ot obtainable with conventional palletizing apparatus. Forinstance, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention permits finalsquaring and orientation of a tier of articles after the steps oflowering the tier and placement of a separator sheet. Further, theorientation occurs immediately prior to imposition of the weight ofanother tier of articles which weight tends to lock and maintain theoriented tier in place.

Also, though the initial positioning and final orientation of thearticles occurs in an area which may have a perimeter substantially lessthan that of the pallet or separator sheet, the areas are cleared forlowering of the tiers and convenient placement of separator sheet. In aparticularly preferred embodiment, the separator sheet not only can beconveniently placed, but it is automatically properly located afterplacement.

While only one particularly useful and detailed embodiment of theinvention has been described and illustrated, it is expected that thoseskilled in the art will recognize various changes and modifications tothe described and illustrated embodiment, and that such changes may beutilized without exceeding the scope of the invention as defined by thefollowing claims. 1

What is claimed is:

1. A method of palletizing articles in vertically spaced tiers with aseparator sheet between each tier comprising:

conveying a plurality of articles onto a support surface and intocontact with article positioning guide members located adjacent threeedges of the support surface to form a tier of such articles, retractingthe positioning guide members upon completion of formation of the tierof articles, lowering the tier of articles a distance substantiallyequal to the height of the articles, placing a separator sheet on theupper surface of the tier of articles to form a support surface,concurrently extending separator sheet locating surfaces and orientationguide members connected to said separator sheet locating surfaces tolocate the separator sheet and orient and square the lower tier,repositioning the positioning guide members, and conveying additionalarticles onto the separator sheet to bear upon and lock the orientedarticles in the lower tier in position.

2. A method of palletizing articles as set forth in claim 1 wherein theinitial support surface is a pallet and the separator sheet locatingmeans and orientation guide members are displaced by the pallet througharticulated support portions to enable the article positioning guidemeans to be properly positioned above the pallet to form an initial tierof articles on the pallet.

3. A method of palletizing articles onto support surfaces wherein thearticles are formed into tiers on the support surfaces, comprising:conveying a plurality of articles onto a support surface and intocontact with article positioning guide members located in a positionadjacent the edge of the support surface to form a tier of sucharticles, retracting the positioning guide members upon completion offormation of the tiers of articles, lowering the tier of articles adistance substantially equal to the height of the articles, placing aseparator sheet on the upper surface of the tier of articles to form asupport surface, extending the article positioning guide members fromthree sides and concurrently extending separator sheet locating surfacesconnected to the article positioning guide members to locate theseparator sheet, conveying additional articles onto the separator sheetand into contact with the article positioning guide members to form yetanother tier of articles.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the lowered tier of articlesis oriented after placement of the separator sheet by bringing to bearupon the edge thereof retractable article orientation guide memberssuspended from common supports with the article positioning guidemembers and separator sheet locating surfaces and, from a fourth side,bringing to bear an article orientation member, the article orientationmember being retractable with the article positioning guide tofacilitate lowering of the tier of articles and clearance of protrudingseparator sheets.

1. A method of palletizing articles in vertically spaced tiers with aseparator sheet between each tier comprising: conveying a plurality ofarticles onto a support surface and into contact with articlepositioning guide members located adjacent three edges of the supportsurface to form a tier of such articles, retracting the positioningguide members upon completion of formation of the tier of articles,lowering the tier of articles a distance substantially equal to theheight of the articles, placing a separator sheet on the upper surfaceof the tier of articles to form a support surface, concurrentlyextending separator sheet locating surfaces and orientation guidemembers connected to said separator sheet locating surfaces to locatethe separator sheet and orient and square the lower tier, repositioningthe positioning guide members, and conveying additional articles ontothe separator sheet to bear upon and lock the oriented articles in thelower tier in position.
 2. A method of palletizing articles as set forthin claim 1 wherein the initial support surface is a pallet and theseparator sheet locating means and orientation guide members aredisplaced by the pallet through articulated support portions to enablethe article positioning guide means to be properly positioned above thepallet to form an initial tier of articles on the pallet.
 3. A method ofpalletizing articles onto support surfaces wherein the articles areformed into tiers on the support surfaces, comprising: conveying aplurality of articles onto a support surface and into contact witharticle positioning guide members located in a position adjacent theedge of the support surface to form a tier of such articles, retractingthe positioning guide members upon completion of formation of the tiersof articles, lowering the tier of articles a distance substantiallyequal to the height of the articles, placing a separator sheet on theupper surface of the tier of articles to form a support surface,extending the article positioning guide members from three sides andconcurrently extending separator sheet locating surfaces connected tothe article positioning guide members to locate the separator sheet,conveying additional articles onto the separator sheet and into contactwith the article positioning guide members to form yet another tier ofarticles.
 4. A method as set forth in claim 3 wherein the lowered tierof articles is oriented after placement of the separator sheet bybringing to bear upon the edge thereof retractable article orientationguide members suspended from common supports with the articlepositioning guide members and separator sheet locating surfaces and,from a fourth side, bringing to bear an article orientation member, thearticle orientation member being retractable with the articlepositioning guide to facilitate lowering of the tier of articles andclearance of protruding separator sheets.